Press Release/March 15, 2024

                                                   BJIM condemns mistreatment of journalists by government official

Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) strongly condemns the confinement and mistreatment of five on-duty journalists in Lalmonirhat district by government officials. 

An assistant commissioner detained journalist Mahfuz Sazu, while he was covering a land dispute hearing, on allegation of recording the proceeding on his phone. When four of Sazu’s colleagues rushed to the government office to discuss the matter, they were also detained. The official then threatened to throw them in jail.

It is the second time in recent weeks that government officials abused their power to threat and misbehave with journalists. This is absolutely not acceptable.

BJIM demands immediate justice for Sazu and his colleagues and a stronger and accountable monitoring system of such abusive behaviours by a handful of government officials that hinder the essence of the freedom of the press.
 

On behalf of all BJIM members,

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SAM Jahan, Convener, BJIM

&

Faisal Mahmud, Member Secretary, BJIM